After Taehyung left the office, he sneaked into the storage room and continued to cry his heart out.

He felt the most alone then; although he had people who cared about him, no one was able to understand what he was going through, to understand his fears and agony.

Jeongguk believed that if he just moved out of his house, his suffering would stop, but he didn’t know Jongwon like Taehyung did. In fact, he didn’t know him at all. He didn’t know what he was capable of doing if things didn’t go his way.

He felt so stupid for letting that sweet boy into his life. For saddening him, for passing his burdens to him, and making him cry like that. He didn’t deserve this, and Taehyung knew it was a mistake to get involved with him, or with anyone really, but he couldn’t dam up his yearning for him.

And now he couldn’t dam up his raging emotions for him and force him out of his life. He wasn’t strong enough to do that. He needed him desperately.

Even though Jeongguk couldn’t understand him fully, he was like a thread of light in the most petrifying and pitch-black place on the entire planet for Taehyung.

How could he just part from him now that he found him?

He lifted his worn-down body off the floor where he had perched onto and shambled towards the changing room. He kept his head lowered as he passed through the employees of the morning shift, who were changing their clothes, and entered the bathroom.

Splashing some handfuls of cold water on his weathered face while using only his left hand, he felt a stream of soberness sprawl through his system, soothing his fraught nerves.

He closed his eyes as he breathed in slowly, holding the air for a beat before he deflated his lungs at the same slow rhythm, and repeated the process a few more times.

His shift had started fifteen minutes ago, and he was thankful that Chang Wook let him have a moment alone to cool down.

When he went to the bar to take his ordering device and tray, he didn’t meet Jeongguk’s gaze at all. He felt so sorry for making him cry before and then disappearing. And the worst part was that he didn’t know how to redress for the pain he caused him.

Jeongguk didn’t try to talk to him, although he was dying to do so. He stayed mute and gave him the time he needed, but rarely let the boy out of his sight.

He could tell right from the start that he struggled to do his job properly with only one hand. He couldn’t lift even a glass of water with his right hand, and when he absently did so, he heard him hiss and saw him grimace in pain.

The poignancy that nestled against his already sorrowful heart broke him all over again, and he had just calmed down from his outbreak of tears several minutes ago.

Unable to watch the boy he was so fond of and was one of the most important people in his life at the moment suffer like this, he left his post and went to find Chang Wook with tears in his dismal eyes.

“Please, Chang Wook.” He swallowed the lump in his throat and exhaled a quaky breath. “Tell him to sit in your office or something. He can’t work like this. I c-can’t—f-fuck.” He let out a choked sob as tears rushed down his face, but he swiftly wiped them, not wanting to seem so weak in front of the older again.

Chang Wook sighed, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Okay, I will. Don’t worry. You can take a few minutes to calm down as well, Kook. Don’t pressure yourself.”

Jeongguk shook his head as he continued brushing off his tears. “I just need him to be okay. I can’t see him suffer anymore.”

“Okay. Let’s go then.” He patted his shoulder as he offered him a sympathetic smile.

“Thank you.” Jeongguk sniffled and smiled back, feeling lucky for having a boss like him.

They exited the office, and as Jeongguk went to his post, Chang Wook waited for the fluffy-haired boy to return to the bar.

Once he did, Chang Wook approached him with a warm smile and called his name in a whisper. “I want you to come with me for a second.”

“But I’m working,” Taehyung mumbled, his brows knitting in a frown.

“You don’t have to work today, Taehyung. I don’t want you to work today.”

“But Chang Wook-ssi—“

“You don’t have to talk to me or anyone. You can just come to my office, take a nap even, but please stop working for today. You need to rest.”

Taehyung was unsure about complying with his request, but it was no secret that he couldn’t work in that condition. Every time he moved his right hand, it stung so much he had to strive to bite back his tears.

With a deep sigh, he left the tray and the ordering device on the counter, eyeing Jeongguk’s figure behind the bar without making eye contact. “Okay.”

Chang Wook broke into a smile and led the way to his office with the younger trailing behind him. “You can sleep if you want. No one will bother you here.”

“Thank you, Chang Wook-ssi. And I’m sorry for all the trouble.”

“Don’t worry about anything. Just try to relax. And I want you to rest for the next three days, but not at home. Do you have somewhere else you can spend your day?”

“That’s too much.” He shook his head. “I don’t need to rest for so long.”

“You do, Taehyung. These types of wounds don’t heal in the blink of an eye. It takes time. And if you don’t have anywhere else to go, you can just come here but not work.”

“Well, if I can’t work, I prefer at least to be here if it’s okay with you.”

“Of course it’s okay.” A soft smile spread on his lips. “Now lie down. I’ll go check how things are outside.” When Taehyung nodded, he strolled off, heading to the bar.

Chang Wook leaned against the counter. “He’s okay. Stop worrying for now and focus on your job, okay?”

Jeongguk sighed in relief. “Okay.” He saw him smile and then step away.

“Kook, what’s wrong with Taehyung?” Namjoon asked in a quiet tone.

“He’s having a hard time. I can’t say anything because it’s personal, but I think I just make things worse.”

“What do you mean?”

“I think I’m pressuring him to do something he’s not ready for. But I don’t mean to,” he whispered, feeling a surge of remorse ripple through him.

“You’re just overprotective with the people you care about. But let’s be honest, you don’t know Taehyung that much yet, and he doesn’t know you much either. And it’s reasonable since you know each other for only a month. I can’t help you a lot since I don’t know what’s going on, but if you want my advice, you should ask him how he feels about whatever is happening and what he wants. Don’t expect him to do whatever you say just because you think you’re right. Maybe the thing you’re pressuring him to do isn’t so easy to be done, and you have to listen to his reasons, even if you don’t like them.”

Namjoon’s words had a profound impact on him as he hadn't thought about it like that before. He was too focused on trying to find ways to help him that he didn’t even ask him how he felt or what he wanted.

Of course, he knew he was scared and he wanted to move out as well, but he didn’t ask him what he wanted at that very moment since he decided to wait for his parents to return.

He said a hurried ‘thank youʼ to Namjoon as they both had to return to work and spent the next seven hours musing over Taehyung and what to do to allay his distressed state.

🥀

Time seemed to pass at a glacial pace, but the end of their shift finally came, and Jeongguk scuttled to the changing room without wasting a second.

In just five minutes, he was all set and already on his way to Chang Wook’s office, swept over the necessity to see the fluffy-haired boy.

He lightly knocked on the door and slid it open to peek inside. He noticed the boss beckoning him to enter, and he did, only to see an outright endearing boy snarled up on the couch. “Is he still sleeping?” he asked as he neared his baby, a loving smile etching on his lips.

“Probably. He fell asleep just two hours ago give or take.”

Jeongguk sat on the edge of the couch and placed a delicate hand on his head, caressing it gently. “Baby,” he uttered, dipping down to leave a sweet kiss on his cheek.

Taehyung hummed while he stretched his furled legs, his eyes fluttering open. “Kookie,” he drawled as he twisted his head to look at him, warmth reaching his heart upon seeing his tender smile and utterly fond gaze.

“Wanna come with me now, angel? Let me take care of you?” he asked with the softest voice possible, and a burst of content rushed inside him when he saw Taehyung nod while rubbing his adorable face with tiny fists. “Come here then.” He grabbed his left hand and pulled him towards him, fastening his arms around his waist.

“What are you—“ Taehyung released a small yelp as the other rose to his feet with him in his hug. He draped his arm over his nape and curled his legs around him for support. “Kookie, they’ll think we’re weird if someone sees us like this,” he said with a giggle as he rested his chin on his shoulder.

“I couldn’t care less, baby,” Jeongguk said, pecking his head, and then turned to the boss. “See you tomorrow.”

“Goodnight, guys. Take care.” Chang Wook chuckled as he waved at them.

“Goodnight, Chang Wook-ssi,” Taehyung uttered with a smile, and Jeongguk began walking towards the exit.

The moment Dohwan saw the two boys in that position, he sing-songed, “Boyfriends.” And his playful remark caused the one to chuckle, and the other to hide his face, embarrassed.

“Cuties,” Inhyuk chirped as well when they passed by the bar.

The two said their goodnight to their fellow employees and finally left the cafe, sauntering towards the car.

“You’re so strong, Kookie,” he muttered sweetly, drawing a few kisses on his smooth neck.

“Yes, but you’re light as a feather as well,” he teased, both giggling.

He released the boy with utter care once they reached their destination and captured his lips in a longing but short kiss. “Wanna come to my house for a while?”

“I do, but... I’m scared. Jongwon was awake when I returned home yesterday,” he trailed off, a gloomy expression surfacing on his face as he recalled what happened.

“What if you send him a text and ask him if you can sleep at Jimin’s house? I’ll drive you home early in the morning. I promise.”

Taehyung nibbled his bottom lip as he pondered over his proposal. Actually, it had been a while since the last time he had a sleepover at Jimin’s house, and maybe Jongwon wouldn’t mind. “I’ll try,” he said as he slipped his phone out of his pocket and texted him.

“Thank you. I really want to spend some time with you,” Jeongguk said in a hushed tone, his grip around him firming up, but he loosened it again as a faint whimper rang in his ears.

“My ribs,” Taehyung murmured with a grimace of pain painted on his features.

A long sigh emitted from Jeongguk’s mouth as he cupped his face, connecting their foreheads. “Sorry, baby.”

“You didn’t know. It’s okay.” He closed the gap between them, sharing a fond kiss. Taehyung’s phone went off then, causing him to flinch. His hand trembled as he lifted it to see who was calling, even though he knew for sure who it was.

“Hyung.”

“Where are you?”

Disquiet settled on his face at his vicious tone as he took a step away from Jeongguk. “I’m at w-work. Jimin asked if I wanted to s-sleep at his house. Can—Can I, hyung? I promise to be back b-before you wake up.”

A moment of dreadful silence went by until Taehyung heard a tsk sound through the phone. “You better be home by nine or else I’ll make you suffer, is that clear?”

“Yes, h-hyung. Thank you.” Without saying anything else, his hyung ended the call, and Taehyung exhaled a shaky breath. “He said yes.”

“I want to crush you in my hug right now so much,” Jeongguk said, smiling from ear to ear as he snatched his gorgeous face and showered it with kisses.

A jumble of hearty giggles flew off Taehyung’s lips as he circled his built body with one arm.

Everything was beyond messed up in his so-called life, and he spent countless days hating it to the max, but ever since he met that caring, lovable boy, life didn’t seem so bad, even if he was still trapped inside an unending circle of ordeals and agony.

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Thank you for sticking with this book, and please look forward to the double update in two days 💖

 
He looks so good😭😭😭